Apparatus for conditioning couch rolls



juh] E, w23.

H. EOYLE .APPARATUS `FOR CONDYTIONING COUCH ROLLS Filed May 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1,469,365 H. BOYLE APPARATUS FOR CONDTTIONING GOUGH ROLLS Filed May 1922 2 sheeis-'sheet 2 Juy 3, E923.

l1/venian HWY-n. la.

Patented July 3, 1923.

, STATES HUGH BOYLE, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING' COIYICH ROLLS.

Application led May 6, 1922. Serial No. 553,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Condit-ioning Couch Rolls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for conditioning the couch rolls of paper making machines.

The primary object of the invention is the rovision of an improved apparatus for bathing, scraping and drying the yieldable and absorbent jackets of paper making machine couch rolls, prior to their contact with sheet pulp during paper makin process, so

. that paper of exceptional qua ity may be produced.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a doctor for the couch rolls of paper making machines, operating in novel manner upon a couch roll jacket, so that the same ma be readily cleansed and dried without liability of mutilation thereof, or without damage to the machine parts or .unfinished paper thereon.

Specifically, the invention comlprehends the provision of an improved suction apparatus, for cooperation with the ordinary couch roll conditioning apparatus found upon Fourdrinier paper making machines, whereby the felt jacket of the couch roll may be properly conditioned for engagement with theunfinished paper in its wet pulpy state, so that a uniform pressing and absorbing action is applied to the unfinished paper for developing a paper of the best quality possible consistentwith the materials used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved couch roll conditioning apparatus operating upon a vacuum principle, whereby the flannel or felt jackets of couch rolls may be properly dried upon their paper contacting surfaces.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate'corresponding parts throughout the several Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the 'Fourdrinier type of paper making machine showing the improved couch roll conditionin apparatus mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a plan View, partly in section, showing details of the improved couch roll conditioning apparatus.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of., one end of the casing used in connection with the conditioning apparatus.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a detail of the improved device.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view showing details of the improved couch roll conditioning apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiinent of this invention, the letter A. designates a paper making machine of the F ourdrinier type, including the frame B; upper and lower couch rolls C and D respectively; paper supporting belt E adapted forv cooperation about the lower couch roll D; wire suction receptacle F; primary couch roll doctor G; and the improved couch roll apparatus H which cooperates in a secondary capacity with respect to the doctor device G in the final conditioning of the couch roll C prior to its action upon the paper supporting belt E.

lThe conditioning apparatus H preferably includes the housing arrangement 10; supporting means 11 for mounting of the same from the frame B in cooperation with the couch roll C; and the improved suction apparatus 12.

Referring to the paper making machine A, the frame B preferably comprises a standard 15 upon which the arms 16 are pivotally connected asby means 17. The couch roll C is of cylindrical formation and is provided with a felt or wooden jacket 18 shrunk or otherwise placed circumferentially thereon; the roll C being supported, as by bearing blocks 20 upon the under surface of the bracket arms 16. The lower couch roll D is rotatably supported as by a standard 21, and supports an end of the Fourdrinier wire belt E. The rolls C and D cooperate in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, so that the roll C is slightly 0E center with respect to the roll D and cooperates in pressing manner upon the wire paper belt E. The suction receptacle F is provided with an exhaust' pipe 25 from which the air is Withdrawn for finishing action of the paper upon the belt, prior to passing of the belt E beneath the couch roll C.

Since the paper supported ,upon the wire belt-ing E is in its wet pulp state as the same passes beneath the upper couch roll C, frequently lumps, films of pulp, or other foreign material become lodged upon the exterior surface of the roller jacket 18, which it is desirable to remove in order that the pressing and absorbing action of the couch roller C and its jacket 18 may be most effectively executed. To this end, it is the conventional practice to provide the primary couch roll doctor G. This apparatus includes the brackets 27 which are mounted upon the frame arms 16 and slidably support the guide board 28 in adjustable manner as by hand screws 29. The guard board 28 is provided with the ordinary jacket lip 3() which extends .longitudinally of the couch roll C and is pointed upon its edge for scraping contact with the outer surface of the felt jacket 18. Perforated liquid spray pipes 32 are provided as ay part of the apparatus G for spraying of water upon the moving couch roll C longitudinally in front of the lip 30. The water or other liquid sprayed upon the jacket 18 is ordinarily scraped therefrom by the 11p 30, due to the rotary action of the couch roll C, said liquid after cleansing action upon the jacket 18 being drawn ofl'` by any suitable arrangement (not shown) so that the `jacket 18 after passing the lip 30 will be relatively dry for contact with the paper upon the belt E, in order to press and dry the same in the well known manner. It is well known to those skilled in the art, that considerable pressure of the strip or -lip 30 upon the surface of the roll jacket 18 is necessary, in order to remove foreign material, such as waste pulp. The sharp edge of this strip 30 becomes quickly worn and wears irregular, due to the fact that the lip 3() is of necessity constructed of wood. At times, lumps upon the jackets 18 refuse to dislodge against action of the lip 30 and the jacket 18 becomes buckled and mutilated. This is a serious occurrence, since very often, the expensive wire paper supporting belts E are damaged, and imperfection of the paper results. Practically all of these troubles are traceable to the excessive clamping action of the lip 30 upon the couch roll C and its jacket 18, in order to scrape the latter of foreign material and provide a squeegee action upon the same.

Referring to the improved couch roll conditioning apparatus H, the same is pro; vided, in order to remedy the defects incident to sole use of the conventional doctor G, by supplementing the primary doctor apparatus G with the secondary apparatus H, which later has a final treating eect upon the couch roll jacket 18 in order to condition the surface of the same for efiicient action with the sheet pulp upon the belt E.

Referring to the housing arrangement 10, the same includes a casing 35 of cast material, and of elongated rectangular appearance to provide a chamber 36 which is open upon one longitudinal side 37 thereof. It is to be noted that the casing 35 is altogether as long as the couch roll C, as the same is to be supported by the means 11 for cooperation therewith. Top and bottom anges 38 and 39 respectively are provided' longitudinally upon the open side 37 of the casing 35 and integral therewith, to provide seating shoulders 40 and 41 respectively within said flanges 38 and 39, for reception of the longitudinal couch roll engaging strips 43 and 44. The strips 43 and 44 are preferably of wood, and are rounded as at 45 upon their outer free edges for contact with the outer surface of the couch roll jacket .18 in a man.- ner to be subsequently described. These strips 33 and 34 are, of course, positioned longitudinally upon opposite sides of the opening of the casing chamber 36, and are secured to the flanges 38 and 39 as by detachable screws 47. As is illustrated' in Figure 3, it is preferred that the top and bottom strips 43 and 44 extend outwardly beyond the solid ends 48 of the easing 45 in order to cooperate with the adjustable end members 50. The end members are each preferably formed of a strip of relatively soft wood 52, such as pine having woolen strips 51 upon opposite longitudinal edges. Screw threaded stems 53 are preferably provided extending from the end walls 48 of the casing 35 for receiving the end pieces 50, as through the slots 54, so that said end pieces 50 may be clamped as by adjustable wing nuts 55 upon the screw threaded -stems 53. The forward edges 56 of the strips 51 are arcuated, in order that the same may conform to the arcuation which the jacket 18 has upon the couch roll C. A partition 60 is provided longitudinally in the chamber 36 of the housing 35, extending from one end wall 48 thereof for approximately one third the length of the casing 35 to provide an auxiliary passageway 61 intermediate the partition 60 and the rear wall 62 of the casing 35, whereby suction within the housing arrangement 10 may be effectively controlled as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The reinforcing webs 63 may be provided' as a part of the casing 35. extending in rigid relation from the top wall 64 to the bottom wall 66 of said casing 35 in order to properly reinforce said walls. In this manner, the passageway 61 is open to the remainder of the casing chamber 36- and is in communication with the roll jacket 18. Referring to the supporting means 11, the

same include a pair of stub shafts 70 which are journalled in suitable bearing blocks 71 upon the frame arms 16 of the` paper making machine A. L-shapedbracket arms 72 are provided, each rigidly aiixed as by set screws 73 upon the outer endl of an arm portion 74 to the end of a stub shaft 70, so that each of said bracket arms 72 is provided with an arm portion 75 which is in depending relation to the arm portion 74; the latter portion being horizontally positioned as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. A pair of eye bolts 7 7 is provided upon the. top wall 64 of the casing 35 at each end thereof, for cooperation with a pair of hook bolts 78 slidably supported' in the slots 79 of each bracket arm 74. The upper ends of the bolts 78 are screw threaded for receiving a pair of adjusting nuts 80 so that a spring 81 may be disposed intermediate a washer 82 and the bracket arm 74 in a determined relation, for resiliently supporting the housing arrangement 10 of the improved couch roll conditioner in a horizontal relation. rl"hus it can be seen that the casing is supported at each end by a pair of the bolts 78, so that the weight of the entire housing ar` rangement 10 is resilient-ly supported by a pair of springs 81 at each e'nd thereof.

An adjusting screw 85 is carried upon the free end of the arm portion 75 of each of the brackets 72; each of said screws 85 being in screw threaded engagement with its-arm 75 and having a washer 86 upon an end thereof which supports a spring 87 The springs 87 are adapted for cooperation in suitable spring seats 88 provided atthe ends of the rear wall 62 of the casing 35.

These screws 85 are provided, in order that by adjustment, the springs 87 which they control may be compressed into the spring seats 88 for forcing the housing arrangement 10 into engagement with the outer surface of the couch roll jacket 18. In this position, the rounded ends of the strips 43 and 44 engage the jacket 18 longitudinally of the roll C, and the arcuate end 56 of the housing end pieces are likewise in engagement with the outer surface of the jacket 18, so that the chamber 36 of the housing 10 has communication with the outer surface of the jacket 18 longitudinally of the roll C. Due to the resilient and yieldable manner in which the springs 87 are compressed to normally force the housing 10 in such relation to lthe jacket 18 of the roll C. the chamber 36 is leak proof, so to speak, so that the suction producing apparatus 12 may properly affect the jacket 18 in a manner which will be subsequently setforth. Check nuts 90 are provided for each of the screws 85, in order to hold them in a determined relation with respect to the bracket 72.

Referring to the suction apparatus 12,

the same includes'an elbow coupling 92 which has communication with the passageway 61 of the casing chamber 36. A tube 93' is provided in communication with the coupling 92 to establish communication with a regulating valve 94 -at the opposite end of the tube 93; said regulating valve 94 having communication with the air exhaust pipe 25 0f the wire suction device F. Thus, the same force producing the suction in the box F can operate through the tube 93 for vacuum effect within the chamber 36 of the housing arrangement 10 in order to directly act upon that portion of the jacket 18 which communicates with the chamber 36 of the housing 10 at any given time.

In operation, the guard board 28 of the conventional doctor G is so adjusted that the lip 30 is in slight contact with the felt jacket 18 of the couch roller C, so that a nominal amount of water which the jacket 18 has absorbed either from the paper pulp or from the spr-ay arrangement 32 passes therewith beneath the lip 30 and approaches the improved suction apparatus H. The principal advantages of such use of the primary conditioning device G will be that of scraping pulp and other foreign material from the contact surface of the jacket 18, although the water is not altogether squeegeed from the jacket 18. rection of rotation of the couch roll C is from the primary conditioning apparatus Gr toward the suction apparatus H, the contact surface of the jacket 18 will be exposed within the housing chamber 36 before again engaging the paper supporting belt E. The air suction created within the chamber 36 by the improved means 12 will thoroughly dry the outer surface of the jacket 18 s0 that the same is in proper condition for pressing and absorbing action upon j the sheet pulp carried by the wire belt E. A uniform suction upon that portion of the jacket 18 exposed to the chamber 36 is insured by reason of the partition 60. Due to engagement of the wood strips 43 and 44 with the outer surface of the jacket 18,.

said jacket 18 will be finally scraped and conditioned for finishing action upon the sheet pulp.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that an improved couch roll conditioning arrangement has been provided which co-acts upon the jacket of a couch roll in order to preserve the life of the same and properly prepare the same for the most advantageous treatment of sheet pulp. A part of the function of the couch roll C and jacket 18 is that of removing water by absorption from the pulp upon the belt E. To eect such result, it is necessary that at least the outer surface of the jacket 18 be dry prior t0 contact with the pulp upon the belt E. Such a dry state of the jacket 18 can not As the dii be properly secured solely by use of the prin'iary conditioning apparatus G. Consequently, it can be seen that the suction apparatus .II which effects a cleansing and drying of the jacket 18 prior to engagement with the wet sheet pulp is an improvement which will result in considerable improvement in the quality of all classes of paper. Only a low vacuum within the chamber 13 is required, due as above stated, to the fact that only the outer surface of the jacket 18 is required to be dried prior to engagement with the wet pulp.

Various changes in the shape,- size, arrangement of parts, or substitution of equivalents may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a paper making machine, the combination with a couch roll having `yieldable paper contacting material thereon, of suction means eXteriorly acting on the paper contacting surface of said material.

2. In a paper making machine, the combination with couch rolls, a pulp sheet support carried by one of said rolls, and material carried by asecond roll for coaction with said rolls in treating of paper pulp, of pneumatic means operating on said material of the second roll for drying and cleaning the paper contacting surface of the same prior to engagement of the same with the pulp sheet on said pulp sheet support.

8. In combination with couch rolls, a pulp sheet conveyor, and yieldable blotting material co-acting with said rolls against said conveyor for pressing and blotting a pulp sheet, of pneumatic means acting on the pulp sheet contacting surface of said yieldable blotting material for cleaning and drying the same.

4. In a paper making machine, the combination with a paper supporting belt and a couch roll, of a casing having an opening therein, means resiliently supporting and urging said casing toward said couch roll with the opening facing said couch roll, and means providing a pneumatic action lthrough said casing and upon said couch roll for conditioning the paper contacting surface of the same prior to engagement with the paper upon said belt.

5. In a paper making machine, the combination with a paper supporting belt and couch roll, of a casing opening upon said couch roll, and means providing a pneumatic action through said casing and upon said couch roll for conditioning the paper contacting surface of the same prior to engagement with the paper upon said belt.

6. In a couch roll conditioning apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame and va couch roll, of a housing having an open side lon itudinally thereof, means mounting said xlliousing to have. said open side'disposcd adjacent the couch roll, and suction apparatus cooperating with said housing to act on' said couch roll through the opening therein.

7. In a conditioning apparatus for paper machines, the combination with a supportmg frame, couch rolls rotatably mounted upon said supporting frame, a felt jacket mounted upon one of said couch rolls for paper treat-ing purposes a housing including a vacuum chamber having an opening longitudinally thereof, and means adjustably mounting said housing on said frame for yieldable contact with the jacket of a couch roll, whereby the opening of said housing is disposed in facin relation against the jacket of said couch rol for conditioning purposes.

8. In a paper making machine, the combination with a supporting frame, and aably mounting said housing on said frame of a housing including an elongated chamber therein provided with an opening upon a longitudinal side thereof, bracket arms pivota-lly connected to said frame, adjustable bolt means resiliently supporting said housing from said bracket arms whereby the chamber openin of said housing is normally disposed m facing relation longitudinally of said couch roll, and pneumatic apparatus having connection with said box chamber for roll conditioning purposes.

9. In a. paper making machine, the combination with a supporting frame, and couch roll carried thereby, of brackets pivotally connected to said supporting frame, a housing having a, suction chamber therein open upon one longitudinal side of said housing, resilient means supporting said housing from said bracket so that the open side thereof is proximately disposed longitudinally of a aper contacting surface of said couch roll, and resilient adjusting means for forcing of said housing into engagement with said couch roll.

10. As an article of manufacture, a couch roll doctor comprising an elongated casing having a 'chamber therein open upon one longitudinal sider of the casing, and detachable roll engaging strips mounted fon said casing upon opposite sides of the opening therein.

11. As an article of manufacture, a couch roll conditioner comprising an elongated casing open upon a longitudinal side thereof, detachable roll engaging strips mounted upon the longitudinal edges of said casing and extending outwardly therefrom upon opposite sides of said opening, and adjustable end strips mounted upon the ends of said casing and extending outwardly therefrom for cooperation with the roll engaging strips,

12. As an article of manufacture, a couch roll conditioner comprising an elongated casing open upon a longitudinal side thereof, detachable roll engaging strips mounted upon the longitudinal edges of said cas- `ing and extending outwardly therefrom upon opposite sides of said opening, adjustable end strips mounted upon the ends of said casing and extending outwardly-for cooperation with the roll engaging strips, and pneumatic suction apparatus having connection with the casing chamber.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a paper treating couch roll, and a supporting frame, of a housing having a chamber therein open upon one longitudinal side of said housing, Wood strips extending forwardly of the housing upon the open side thereof and upon the longitudinal edges of said opening, adjustable end pieces mounted upon said housing adapted for cooperation with the end edges of said strips to extend forwardly of said housing, and adjusting means resiliently supporting said housing from said frame, whereby the forward marginal edges of said wood strips and the adjustable end pieces of said housing engage said roll for conditioning purposes.

14. As an article of manufacture, a couchy roll doctor comprising a casing open at one longitudinal side, roll engaging means cooperating with said casing upon the open side thereof, a suction creating apparatus having communication in the casing of said chamber, and partitions in said chamber for co-action with said suction means to create a uniform suction in said casing at the opening thereof.

15. As an article of manufacture, an elongated substantially rectangular casing having top, bottom, end and rear walls, and having the front of said casing open 1ongitudinally thereof for its entire length, attaching flanges formed upon said casing extending forwardly thereof upon opposite longitudinal edges of said opening, longitudinal strips, means for detachably mounting said strips upon said anges, said strips extending outwardly from the end walls of said casing, and members having slots therein, detachable screw means for adjustably securing said end strips to the end walls of said casing, whereby said end strips eX- tend forwardly of the opening of said casing to cooperate with the extending end portions of said longitudinal strips, and suction apparatus connected with said casing to the rear Wall thereof.

16. lA paper making machine comprising a supporting frame, a paper supporting wire belt, a wire suction box, a couch roll, a felt jacket mounted upon said couch roll adapted for action upon the paper supporting wire belt, liquid spray means for conditioning said jacket, and suction conditioning apparatus mounted intermediate said liquid spray means and said paper supporting belt for co-action upon said jacket to finally condition the same prior to its engagement with the sheet pulp upon said supporting belt.

17. In a couch roll conditioning apparatus, the combination of liquid spray means for the pulp sheet contacting surface of said couch roll, scraping means for said surface, and pneumatic drying means for said surface.

18. In combination with a couch roll and pulp sheet conveyor, of liquid spray means for the pulp sheet contacting surface of said couch roll, scraping means for said pulp sheet contacting surface of the couch roll, and means providing a pneumatic action `for the pulp sheet contacting surface of the couch roll, said liquid spray means, scraping means, and means for providing a pneumatic action operating in the order named upon said pulp sheet contacting surface of the couch roll after` leaving said ul sheet onve or. p p c y HUGH BoYLE. 

